| Chemotherapy Side Effects |
| Written by Barbara Tiger | |
What Are Side Effects And How To Overcome Them?Chemotherapy side effects range widely from one individual to the next. This happens because of the body's reaction to the chemotherapy medications that you are taking in such large doses. For most people, getting sick, losing hair and often the feeling of just being very fatigued are likely symptoms of chemotherapy. Yet, not all people will face them. For some, they may be more intense. Your reaction is a combination of the way that you face your illness, your body's abilities to overcome them and the additional help you get from your doctor in treating chemotherapy side effects.Where Do Side Effects Happen?Being prepared for what is likely to happen to you can help you to get through it when it happens. The drugs in chemotherapy work to kill off the cancer cells in your body by targeting those cells within the body that are dividing. Cancer cells divide and multiple very quickly and constantly, while normal cells do not. Yet, there are some areas of your body that do have cells that divide more often. Since the chemotherapy drugs can not tell the difference in normal cells and cancer cells (they simply target those areas of your body that are dividing) there is a good chance that some of your dividing cells will be destroyed as well.This happens in some areas of the body more than others. For example, hair loss in chemotherapy often happens because the hair is continuously growing which means cells are dividing. This is why your hair may fall out. Your skin also has a constant cell division happening as does the mouth, your digestive system and your bone marrow. Unfortunately, your body is likely to take some damage in the process of losing these cells. Yet, that does not mean that they can not be repaired and that you will not see an improvement. As the chemotherapy medications leave the body, the normal cells can repair themselves while cancer cells can not. Talk to your doctor about the drugs that you will be taking. Each drug may cause a different type of side effect. Your doctor should be able to tell you about the specific side effects of chemotherapy drugs you are going to be taking. Most people do not get all the side effects of the drugs, while some may have very mild reactions. Chemotherapy effects are specific to you. Why Take These Side Effects?The side effects of chemotherapy can be very daunting for those that do go through some of the more difficult ones. For some people it may not seem like it is worth it to go through the feelings of nausea, hair loss and sicknesses. Yet, what is important is that the side effects do not last long (most are short term only right after you have the chemotherapy treatment) and most will help your health improve. Therefore, you should never overlook the benefits of taking these medications for cancer because of the side effects, even if they are very difficult to take on.There is help available to you, too. Doctors can offer a number of medications to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy that you are facing. This may include a number of other medications to take. In some situations, if your side effects are severe, doctors may choose another alternative treatment for your cancer that is less likely to have the same side effects. Talk to your doctor about the types of side effects you are likely to face iwht the chemotherapy drugs that you must take to overcome your cancer. Get as much information as possible on possible medications that can help you. |
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